Magnetically operable studs for footwear

Abstract

The invention relates to a releasable stud for a shoe sole. The releasable stud includes a stud body and a first fastening mechanism coupled to the stud body. The first fastening mechanism is magnetically operable and interacts with a second fastening mechanism of the shoe sole. In another aspect, the invention relates to a shoe sole for an article of footwear, in particular a sole for a soccer shoe. The shoe sole includes at least one such stud and at least one receptacle, which itself includes the second fastening mechanism, for the stud. At least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism is magnetically operable to releasably fasten the stud to the receptacle.

1. A releasable stud for a shoe sole, the stud comprising:
 a stud body; and  
 a first fastening mechanism coupled to the stud body for interacting with a second fastening mechanism on the shoe sole, the first fastening mechanism comprising at least one anchoring element for anchoring the stud to the sole,  
 wherein the first fastening mechanism comprises at least one magnetically operable locking element adapted to lock the stud in an anchoring position, and  
 wherein the at least one anchoring element is configured for insertion into the second fastening mechanism of the shoe sole and is capable of being rotated to anchor the stud to the shoe sole in the anchoring position.  
 
     
     
       2. The stud of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetically operable locking element comprises a magnetically moveable pin. 
     
     
       3. The stud of  claim 2 , wherein a spring element is coupled to the magnetically moveable pin and the spring element is capable of moving the pin into a corresponding recess of the second fastening mechanism once the anchoring element has anchored the stud to the shoe sole in the anchoring position. 
     
     
       4. The stud of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetically moveable pin extends in a starting position from the stud body and is retractable into the stud body under the influence of a magnetic field to unlock the stud in the anchoring position. 
     
     
       5. The stud of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring element comprises a T-shaped projection extending from the stud body. 
     
     
       6. The stud of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring element and the magnetically operable locking element are sequentially arranged on a top surface of the stud body. 
     
     
       7. A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 at least one stud comprising a first fastening mechanism; and  
 at least one receptacle defined by the sole, the receptacle comprising a second fastening mechanism for interacting with the first fastening mechanism, wherein at least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism comprises at least one magnetically operable locking element to releasably fasten the stud to the receptacle and adapted to lock the stud in an anchoring position,  
 wherein at least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism comprises at least one anchoring element for anchoring the stud to the shoe sole, and  
 wherein the at least one anchoring element is configured for insertion into the other corresponding fastening mechanism and is capable of being rotated to anchor the stud to the receptacle in the anchoring position.  
 
     
     
       8. The sole of  claim 7 , wherein the magnetically operable locking element comprises a magnetically movable pin. 
     
     
       9. The sole of  claim 8 , wherein a spring element is coupled to the magnetically moveable pin and the spring element is capable of moving the pin into a corresponding recess of at least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism once the anchoring element has anchored the stud to the receptacle in the anchoring position. 
     
     
       10. The sole of  claim 8 , wherein the magnetically moveable pin is retractable under the influence of a magnetic field to unlock the stud in the anchoring position. 
     
     
       11. The sole of  claim 7 , wherein the anchoring element comprises a T-shaped projection. 
     
     
       12. The sole of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism defines an opening, the opening comprising side edges. 
     
     
       13. The sole of  claim 12 , wherein the side edges are engaged by the T-shaped projection when the anchoring element has anchored the stud to the receptacle in the anchoring position. 
     
     
       14. The sole of  claim 7 , wherein the sole defines a recess for engaging a projection disposed on the first fastening mechanism. 
     
     
       15. An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole, the sole comprising:
 at least one stud comprising a first fastening mechanism; and  
 at least one receptacle defined by the sole, the receptacle comprising a second fastening mechanism for interacting with the first fastening mechanism, wherein at least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism comprises at least one magnetically operable locking element to releasably fasten the stud to the receptacle and adapted to lock the stud in an anchoring position,  
 wherein at least one of the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism comprises at least one anchoring element for anchoring the stud to the shoe sole, and  
 wherein the at least one anchoring element is configured for insertion into the other corresponding fastening mechanism and is capable of being rotated to anchor the stud to the receptacle in the anchoring position.